Demolition device



Dec. 2o, 196oc. A. BORCHER Em 2,965,032

DEMOLITION DEVICE Filed April les, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .N @NRW Q mm mm E ov mm www? mm EN .vm www N @NEW l 3mm A 0A. J'LGadmaux i m' Dec. 20, 1960 c. A. BoRcHER m-AL 2,965,032

DEMOLITION DEVICE Filed April 16, 1945 2 Sheets-:Sheet 2 EL. Gahaux United States Patent O DEMoLII'IoN DEVICE Charles A. B01-cher, United States Navy (4304 Russell Ave., Mount Rainier, Md.), and Paul L. Godchaux, United States Navy (5734 N. 15th St., Arlington, Va.)

Filed Apr. 16, 1945, Ser. No. 588,517

8 Claims. (Cl. 102-22) y (Granted under Title 35, U.S. `Code (1952), sec. 266) This invention relates to a demolition device and is particularly adapted for use in destroying secret and coniidential equipment used on surface craft, aircraft, submarines, or the like. Certain secret and confidential equipment such, for example, as radio equipment and the like are issued to the Armed Forces and it is essential that such equipment be completely destroyed in event that sudden seizure by the enemy forces appears probable. In the event of the probability of such sudden seizure, it has been found necessary to destroy such equipment by demolition and it is also necessary to protect the personnel when the demolition device is tired. The device of the present invention, therefore, is so constructed as to demolish completely the equipment enclosed within the usual casing without danger of injury to the personnel inasmuch as the quantity of explosive material employed is only sutiicient to demolish the equipment and the fragments will rarely, if ever, penetrate the wall of the casing.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved demolition unit adapted to be detachably secured to the casing enclosing secret and confidential equipment and to extend a predetermined distance within the casing sutiicient to demolish such equipment when fired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved demolition device having an explosive charge and an electroresponsive means arranged therein for iiring the explosive charge thereby to destroy secret equipment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a demolition device including means whereby the device may be quickly attached to a casing enclosing secret and confidential equipment and red at will thereby to destroy the equipment instantly.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved demolition device adapted to be detachably secured and locked to a casing enclosing secret and confidential equipment.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved demolition device which is economical to manufacture, reliable in operation and which possesses the qualities of durability during handling and transportation.

Still further objects, novel features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the demolition device showing the manner in which the device is attached to the casing enclosing secret or coniidential equipment;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail end elevational View of the demolition device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation of the demolition device as seen from the opposite direction to Fig. 3;

ICC

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail elevational view of the demolition device alone;

Fig. 7 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on line S-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail for a more complete understanding of the invention, the demolition unit disclosed thereon comprises asocket member generally indicated by the reference character 10 composed of Bakelite, hard rubber or any other insulating material suitable for the purpose. The socket member 10 comprises a cylindrical body 11 having a slotted or out out portion 12 extending through one end thereof and a similar slotted or cut out portion 13 extending through the other end thereof thereby providing a bridge or support 14 intermediate the slotted portions of the cylindrical body 11.

As shown on the drawings, especially Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the socket member 10 is detachably secured to the casing 15 enclosing the apparatus to be destroyed by means of an adapter generally indicated by the reference character 16 and comprising a cylindrical nipple 17 having `a flange 1S integrally connected thereto. The adapter 16 is secured to the wall 19 of the casing 15 in any suitable manner preferably as by bolts 21 passing through registering openings provided in the wall 19 and ange 18. Nuts 22 have threaded engagement with the threaded end of the bolts 21 and the nuts are adapted to have abutting relation with respect to the wall 19 of the casing 15 thereby securing the adapter 16 to the wall. The adapter 16 isprovided with a pair of dowel pins or studs 23 secured thereto in any suitable manner and are adapted to have locking engagement with a pair of L-shaped slots 24 provided in the cylindrical body 11 whereby the socket member 10 may be inserted into the adapter with the demolition unit extending a predetermined distance within the casing 15. It will be understood, however, that the pins 23 will come to rest against a shoulder 25 provided at the end of each short leg 26 of the L-shaped slot 24 thereby providing a stop to limit the axial movement of the socket member 10 within the adapter 16 after the socket member has been inserted into the adapter and rotated therein thereby securing the demolition device within the set or secret equipment.

Furthermore, the socket member 10 is adapted to be locked within the adapter 16 by means of a pn 27 having one end screw threaded as at 28 and the other end thereof is provided with an enlarged head 29. The p'n 27 passes through an opening 31 provided in a block 32 secured to the flange 18 by a screw 33. The pin 27 also passes through an opening 34 in the cylindrical nipple 17 and is of such length as to extend through a pair of registering openings or bores 35 provided in the socket member 10 and the threaded end 28 of the pin 27 has threaded engagement with a threaded opening 36 provided in the nipple 17 and the enlarged head 29 engages the block 37 when the pin is in locking position as best shown on Fig. 1 of the drawings. By this arrangement the demolition device is securely locked to the adapter in such a manner as to prevent accidental displacement or indiscriminate removal of the demolition device from the casing enclosing the secret or confidential equipment.

It will be understood, however, that when the studs 23 engage the shoulder 25 provided at the end of each short leg 26 of the L-shaped slot 24, the openings in the block 32, the cylindrical nipple 17 and the socket member 10 are in alignment with respect to each other and the pin 27 may be readily inserted therethrough and threaded into the opening 36 in the nipple 17. A portion of the opening 31 in the block 32 is threaded as at 37 whereby the threaded end 28 of the pin 27, if desired', may be threaded therein when the pin is not in locking position. By this arrangement the pin 27 is attached to the adapter and readily accessible to the operator so that the demolition device may be inserted instantly and locked in position on the casing containing the secret or confidential equipment and tired at will thereby demolishing the equipment.

A frangible container composed of metal or any other material suitable for the purpose and generally indicated by the reference character 38 is mounted in one end of the socket member 10. The container 38 is provided with a plurality of circumferential and longitudinal grooves 39 thereby providing weakened portions therein, the purpose of which will more clearly appear as the description proceeds. The container 38 is secured within the socket by screws or the like 41 passing through openings 42 provided in the socket member 10 and extending through openings 43 in the container, the screws having threaded engagement with threaded openings 44 provided in a retainer ring 45 arranged within the container 38 thereby securing the container within the socket member 10 and also securing the retainer ring 45 within the container 38. The retainer ring 45 is adapted to have abutting relation with respect to one end of a firing unit generally indicated by the reference character 46 while the other end of the ring unit has abutting relation with respect to a Tetryl pellet or any other suitable bursting or explosive charge 47 whereby the firing unit is spaced a predetermined distance from the bursting or explosive charge. The Tetryl pellet 47 is provided with a protecting casing or covering 40 composed of any material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as paper. The tiring unit 46 comprises a pair of electroresponsive detonators 48 enclosed in a tubular member 49 composed of paper or any other material suitable for the purpose. The detonators 48 are sealed within the tubular member 49 by a suitable plastic material 51 such, for example, as beeswax. Each detonator 48 is electrically connected in parallel by a pair of electrical conductors 52 connected thereto in any suitable manner and also adapted to extend through the beeswax 51 and are of such length as to extend through an opening 54 provided in an insulating bushing 55 having a pressed fit into an opening 56 in the retainer ring 45. The bushing is adapted to prevent the conductors 52 from coming into contact with the retaining ring 45 and causing a short circuit thus preventing firing of the detonator.

A wad 57 composed of felt, cotton, or any other material suitable for the purpose is arranged within the container 38 between the Tetryl pellet and a check washer 58 whereby to form a pressure chamber 59 within the container. The check washer 58 is adapted to have abutting relation with respect to one end of a plug 61 composed of steel or any other material suitable for the purpose while the other end of the plug has abutting relation with respect to a ange 62 provided on the outer Vend of the container 38 preferably as by rolling or crimping the edge of the container over the outer end of the plug 61; thereby the plug will absorb the axial component of the explosion as the explosive charge is tired. The check washer 58 is adapted to provide a check for the explosion within a pressure chamber 59 when the explosive charge is red to confine the explosion wihin the chamber 59 thereby to shatter the frangible container 38 sufliciently to demolish the equipment within the casing 19.

The bridge member 14 is provided with a pair of openings 63, each opening'adapted to receive a connector pin generally indicated by the reference character 64 and each pin having one end thereof threaded as at 65. The

other ends of the pins are provided with the usual bifurcated spring portions 66 for receiving and retaining the usual connector plug 67 as shown in dashed outline in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The connector pins 64 are secured to the bridge member 14 and within the openings 63 by a pair of nuts 68 having threaded engagement with the threaded portions 65 of the connector pins 64, each nut also having abutting relation with respect to each side surface of the bridge member 14 thereby retaining the pins in fixed position within the socket member 10. Each pin 64 has one pair of the conductors 52 connected thereto as by nuts 69 having threaded engagement with the threaded portions 65 of each pin 64 whereby the conductors 52 are clamped between the nuts 68 and 69 on each pin 64 so that electrical current may be supplied to the detonators to cause ring thereof. The connector pins 64 are adapted to extend a predetermined distance beyond each side face of the bridge 14. The end 65 of each pin 64 extends into the slot 12 while the ends 66 of the pins extend into the slot 13 of the socket member 10. The slot 13 in the socket member 10 provides means whereby the plug 67 may be inserted into the connector pins 64 to establish electrical connection therebetween.

A slot 71 is provided in one end of the container 38 in registration with the slot 12 in the socket member 10 thereby providing snflicient space to permit assembly of the connector pins to the bridge 14 and also permit the conductors 52 to be connected to the pins 64 and secured in place thereon.

When conditions may warrant the destruction of the secret or confidential equipment, the demolition device is inserted into the adapter 16 secured to the casing 19 and the frangible container 38 extends a predetermined distance within the casing. The device is adapted to be locked in position by the pin 27 as heretofore described and the connector plug 67 is inserted into the connector pins 64, thus the device is in condition for operation. It will be understood, however, that a suitable firing switch, not shown, may be employed to close a circuit from the source of power to the detonators 48 to cause firing thereof, thus detonating the explosive or bursting charge 47. When this occurs, the explosion is confined within the pressure chamber 59 by the check Washer 58 and the plug 61 sufiicient to absorb the axial component of the explosion whereby the force of the explosion confined within the pressure chamber will be sucient to shatter completely the frangible container 38 due to the weakened portions 39 thereof whereupon the fragments of the container will demolish the equipment within the casing 19. It will be understood, however, that the demolition device of the present invention is so constructed as to demolish completely the equipment enclosed within the casing 19 without danger of injury to the personnel inasmuch as the quantity of explosive material employed is only sufficient to demolish the equipment within the casing without demolishing the casing 19 and the force of the explosion is insufficient to cause the fragments of the container to penetrate the walls of the casing.

The many advantages of the demolition device constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing description and, although a preferred embodiment of the device is illustrated and described it is to be understood that changes in the detailsof construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment'of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as'new and desired to be secured by -Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a demolition device of the class described in combination, a socket member, a complementary member for receiving and supporting said socket member, means for locking the socket member to said complementary member, a frangible container having a plurality of weakened portions and supported by said socket member, an explosive charge arranged within said container and adapted to burst the container, electroresponsive means arranged within said frangible container for firing said explosive charge, a wad arranged within said container in abutting engagement with said explosive charge for providing a pressure chamber within the container, and means including a mass sealed within the container for confining the explosion to said chamber thereby to cause fragmentation of the container as the charge is tired.

2. In an elongated demolition device of the class de scribed in combination, a socket member, an adapter for detachably supporting said socket member, means including a pair of pins on the adapter for locking the socket member to the adapter, a container supported by said socket member and having a plurality of circumferential and longitudinal weakened portions, an explosive charge arranged within said container, a plurality of`electroresponsive detonating devices arranged within said container and adapted to tire said explosive charge, a wad arranged within said container in abutting engage ment with said explosive charge for providing a pressure chamber within the container, means including a mass sealed within thecontainer for confining the explosion to said pressure chamber thereby to cause fragmentation of the container at said weakened portions as the charge is fired, and means including a plurality of electrical conductors arranged within said demolition device and connected to said detonating devices for providing a tiring connection to the detonating devices.

3. In a demolition device of the class described in combination, a socket member adapted to be rotated a predetermined amount to a locked position, an adapter for rotatably supporting said socket member therein, means on the adapter constructed and arranged to coact with complementary means on the socket member for detachably securing the socketvmember to the adapter in said locked position when the socket member has been rotated said predetermined amount, an elongated frangible container supported by said socket member, a tiring unit arranged within said frangible container, said tiring unit including a casing having a pair of electroresponsive detonating devices sealed therein, an explosive charge arranged within said frangible container in abutting rela tion with said firing unit and adapted to be tired by said electroresponsive devices, a Wad arranged within said frangible container in abutting engagement with said explosive charge for providing a pressure chamber within the container, means including a mass sealed within the container for confining the explosion to said pressure chamber thereby to cause fragmentation of the container as the charge is tired, a pair of slip connections arranged within said socket member, and a plurality of electrical conductors connected to said slip connections and to said electroresponsive devices adapted to provide an external ring connection to the electroresponsive devices.

4. A demolition devices of the class described comprising a socket member, a frangible container secured within said socket member, a firing unit arranged within said frangible container, said tiring unit including a casing having a pair of electroresponsive detonating devices sealed therein, an explosive charge arranged within said frangible container in abutting relation with respect to one end of said tiring unit and adapted to be tired by said detonating devices, means arranged within said frangible container for retaining said tiring unit in abutting relation with said explosive charge, a wad arranged within said frangible container adjacent said explosive charge thereby to form a pressure chamber, means including a washer arranged within the container for confining the explosion to said pressure chamber thereby to cause the frangible 6 container to burst as the explosive charge is tired, a pair of slip connections arranged within said socket member, and a plurality of electrical conductors connected to said slip connections and to said detonating devices for establishing a firing connection to the detonating devices.

5. In a demolition device of the class described, in combination, a socket member, a complementary member for supporting said socket member and adapted to be secured to a housing enclosing secret equipment, means for locking the socket member to said complementary member, an elongated tubular frangible container having a plurality of weakened portions and one end thereof secured within said socket member and extending a predetermined distance within said housing when the socket member is locked to said complementary member, said container having a flanged portion on the other end thereof, a mass arranged within said frangible container in abutting relation with said flanged portion and adapted to absorb the axial component of the explosion as the explosive charge is tired, a tiring unit arranged within said frangible container, said firing unit including a casing, a pair of electroresponsive detonators sealed within said casing, an explosive charge arranged within the frangible container in abutting relation with the tiring unit, means including a wad for sealing the explosion within said frangible container thereby to cause the weakened portions of the container to be shattered as the explosive charge is tired, a pair of slip connections secured within said socket member, and a plurality of electrical conductors connected to said slip connections and to said electroresponsive detonators for providing a firing connection to the detonators.

6. In a demolition device of the class described, in combination, a socket member, a complementary member adapted to be secured to a housing enclosing secret equipment and adapted detachably to receive and support said socket member, means for locking said socket member within said complementary member, and elongated frangible container having a anged portion at one end thereof and the other end thereof secured within said socket member and adapted to extend a predetermined distance within said housing when the socket member is locked to the complementary member, a tiring unit arranged within said frangible continer, said ring unit including a casing having a pair of electroresponsive detonating devices sealed therein, an explosive charge arranged within said frangible container in abutting relation with the tiring unit and adapted to be tired by said detonating devices, means arranged within said frangible container for retaining said tiring unit in abutting relation with said explosive charge, means for sealing the explosion of the charge within said frangible container to cause shattering of the container thereby to demolish said equipment, a mass arranged within said frangible container between said sealing means and said flanged portion of the container and adapted to absorb the axial component of said explosion, a pair of slip connections secured within said socket member, and a plurality of electrical conductors connected to said slip connections and to said detonating devices for providing a firing connection to the detonating devices.

7. In a demolition device of the class described, in combination, a socket member, an adapter for rotatably supporting said socket member therein, means defining a pair of slots on said socket member, a pair of pins on said adapter constructed and arranged to coact with said slotted means for detachably securing said socket member to the adapter as the socket member is rotated a predetermined amount, means including a pin for locking the socket member to said adapter when said socket member has been rotated said predetermined amount, an elongated frangible container secured within the socket member, a casing arranged within said frangible container, a pair of electroresponsive detonating devices disposed within said casing in sealed relation therewith,

means for sealing said detonating devices within the casing, an explosive charge arranged within the frangible container in abutting engagement with one end of the casing and adapted to burst the container when tired, a mass arranged within the frangible container for absorbing the axial component of the explosion as the explosive charge is tired, and means including a plurality of electrical conductors connected to said detonating devices for establishing a firing connection thereto.

8. In a demolition device of the class described, in combination, a socket member, an adapter for rotatably supporting said socket member therein, a pair of headed devices on said adapter, a pair of complementary devices on said socket member constructed and arranged to coact with said headed devices for detachably securing the socket member to the adapter as the socket member is rotated a predetermined amount, means including a pin secured to the adapter for locking the adapter to the socket member when the socket member has been rotated said predetermined amount, a frangible container secured Within the socket member, a casing arranged Within said frangible container, a pair of electroresponsive detonating devices disposed within said casing in sealed relation therewith, means for sealing said detonating devices within the casing, an explosive charge arranged within said frangible container in abutting engagement with one end of the casing and fired by said detonating devices for bursting the frangible container, and means including a plurality of electrical conductors connected to said detonating devices for establishing a tiring connection thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,277,271 Sutch Aug. 27, 1918 1,408,565 Crane Mar. 7, 1922 1,617,675 Djidics Feb. 15, 1927 1,816,100 Ulrik July 28, 1931 2,016,250 Camp Oct. 1, 1935 2,163,462 Holran et al. June 20, 1939 2,386,211 Grant Oct. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,083 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1915 

